Welder{3 s mask for use with respirator

ABSTRACT

A welder&#39;&#39;s mask for use with a respirator includes an eye protecting window mounted on an integral face covering section which is provided with an enlarged depending bubble portion adapted to enable a welder to wear a respirator during welding operations while still assuring sufficient ventilation for the welder. The face covering portion of the welder&#39;&#39;s mask is provided with two side sections which extend rearwardly from the front of the mask for a distance sufficient to cover a welder&#39;&#39;s ears. The bubble portion of the mask is designed to be of sufficient volume such that when the mask is worn with a conventional respirator, at least two-thirds of exhaled air is expelled from the bubble volume thereby mixing with fresh air and, due to the chimney effect created by contact of warmer expelled air with fresh air, the latter is drawn upwardly and may be readily inhaled by the welder. By expelling the aforementioned fraction of exhaled air from the bubble volume, excessive, deleterious concentrations of carbon dioxide are inhibited from building up in the immediate vicinity of the respirator.

11] 3,914,796 [4 1 Oct. 28, 1975 Barta 1 WELDERS MASK FOR USE WITH RESPIRATOR [75] Inventor: Raymond D. Barta, Midland, Mich.

[73] Assignee: Inc. Airco, Montvale,N.J.

[22] Filed: Jan. 3, 1975 211 App]. No.: 538,488

52 US. Cl. 2/8 [51] Int. CI. A42B.l/00 [58] Field of Search 2/8, 9, 7; 128/141 R, 140 R,

[56] References Cited UNITEl) STATES PATENTS 1,759,317 5/1930 Malcom... 2/8 X 2,693,597 11/1954 Horlbeck... 2/8 2,827,900 3/1958 Marietta 2/9 X 3,232,290 1/1966 Nicolai 2/8 X 3,535,707 10/1970 Greenlee .7 2/8 3,792,702 2l-l974 Delest 2/9 X Primary ExaminerAlfred R. Guest Attorney, Agent, or Firm-David L. Rae; H. Hume Mathews; Edmund-W. Bopp [57] ABSTRACT A welders mask for use with a respirator includes an eye protecting window mounted on an integral face covering section which is provided with an enlarged depending bubble portion adapted to enable a welder to wear a respirator during welding operations while still assuring sufficient ventilation for the welder. The face covering portion of the welders mask is provided with two side sections which extend rearwardly from the front of the mask for a distance sufficient to cover a welders ears. Thebubble portion of the mask is designed to be of sufficient volume such that when the mask is worn with a conventional respirator, at least two-thirds of exhaled air is expelled from the bubble volume thereby mixing with fresh air and, due to the chimney effect created by contact of warmer expelled air with fresh air, the latter is drawn upwardly and may be readily inhaled by the welder. By expelling the aforementioned fraction of exhaled air from the bubble volume, excessive, deleterious concentrations of carbon dioxide are inhibited from building up in the immediate vicinity of the respirator.

7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures US. Patent Oct. 28, 1975 WELDERS MASK FOR USE WITH RESPIRATOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a welders mask and more particularly, to a welders mask which may be worn with a conventional respirator device.

In order to provide adequate protection to a welder from heat, radiation, dust, fumes and sparks, etc. generated during welding operations, it has been common practice for welders to wear a protective mask or shield. Various forms of eye protecting windows with appropriate radiation shielding or filter devices are also standard elements of a welders mask. One longstanding problem with welders masks has been the difticulty in assuring adequate ventilation for the welder in order to avoid the deleterious effects caused by breathing of various contaminants, and yet assuring a sufficient supply of fresh air for breathing.

Attempts to solve the foregoing problem of satisfactorily ventilating a welders mask have included the provision of a respirator worn together with the welders mask. As conventional respirators are effective to inhibit the passage of contaminants to the welder during inhalation, the use of respirators has generally resulted in improved breathing by welders during typical welding operations. For example, a typical welders mask incorporating a respirator device is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,232,290. In this apparatus, the respirator is merely mounted by means of a bracket onto the face covering portion of a welders mask with no provision for assuring the removal of exhaled air being provided. It has also been suggested in the prior art to incorporate a fan or like device within a welders mask to assure a desired flow of air behind the mask thereby assuring adequate ventilation for the welder and a welding mask or helmet incorporating such an electrical motor and fan arrangement is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,535,707. Although a degree of ventilation is provided by such apparatus, the welders mask is'rendered heavy, complex and costly by the incorporation of an electrical motor and fan arrangement for circulating air behind the mask.

Therefore, a clear need exists for a welders mask which is both inexpensive and capable of mass production yet which is effective to protect the welder against heat, radiation and the like and most importantly, may be worn with a typical respirator and yet provide an adequate supply of fresh air for the welder.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a welders mask for protecting a welder from excessive heat, radiation, dust, fumes, etc. during welding operations.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a welders mask adapted to be worn together with a conventional respirator without significantly impeding breathing efforts of the welder.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a welders mask suitable for use with a respirator yet providing sufficient ventilation interiorally of the mask to avoid excessive concentrations of residual carbon dioxide accruing upon exhalation by the welder.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a welding mask suitable for use with a respirator wherein at least two-thirds of exhaled air is expelled from behind the respirator mask such that the formation of excessive concentrations of residual carbon dioxide in the immediate vicinity of the respirator are inhibited.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description of an exemplary embodiment thereof which follows and the novel features of the present invention will be particularly pointed out in conjunction with the claims appended hereto.

SUMMARY In accordance with the present invention, a welders mask for use with a respirator includes an eye protecting window and an integral face covering section having side portions which extend rearwardly and a lower depending bubble portion of sufficient size to substantially encompass a respirator device. The bubble portion extends frontally from the wearers chin for a distance of at least 7.5 cm. thereby defining a bubble volume of at least 500 ml. such that upon normal breathing by a welder, at least two-thirds of the exhaled air is expelled from the bubble volume. By configuring a welders mask in accordance with the foregoing dimensions, adequate ventilation for a welder will be provided. Such ventilation accrues from the mixing of exhaled (CO enriched) air with fresh air and, as exhaled air is normally warmer than fresh air, the aforementioned mixing will result in a chimney effect as mixed air will rise past the welders head thereby inducing a flow of fresh air into the immediate vicinity of the respirator. Accordingly, by providing such ventilation of a welders mask worn with a respirator, inhalation of excessive amounts of CO is avoided and thus, improved welder breathing and ability to operate are achieved. In addition, by providing a lower, depending bubble portion in accordance with the present invention, proper positioning of the eye protecting window above the bubble portion is enabled. Thus, the bubble portion and the eye protecting window are effective to enable appropriate ventilation for, and viewing by the welder, respectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment thereof in conjunction with the following drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the front and side of an exemplary embodiment of a welders mask provided in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a further isometric view of the rear portions and head harness of an exemplary embodiment of a welders mask provided in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PROFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated an exemplary embodiment of a welders mask 10 generally comprised of side portion 11, bubble portion 12 and eye protecting window 13. welders mask 10 is preferably comprised of a suitable plastic material or the like sufficient to withstand heat generated during a typical welding operation. Although other than plastic materials may be utilized, it is preferred to form mask 10 from as light a material as readily and economically possible. In addition, it will be understood that although mask 10 is herein described as intended for use by a welder,

mask is suitable for protection against the aforementioned effects of heat, radiation, etc. regardless of the particular operation performed by the wearer. Side portions 11 of mask 10 are preferably substantially planar and extend from the frontal portion of mask 10 rearwardly for a distance sufficient to provide a covering of the ears of a welder. Bubble portion 12 is preferably configured in a substantially curvilinear fashion and is provided as a lower depending frontal and side portion of mask 10. The size of bubble l2 and the interior volume defined thereby is preferably sufficient to encompass and substantially surround a typical respirator (not shown) device worn by a welder during welding operations. In addition, the bubble portion is spaced sufficiently away from the welders face and respirator to permit the expulsion of exhaled air from the bubble volume and the introduction of fresh air such that adequate ventilation for a welder may be effected.

The importance of providing a welders mask 10 with a lower, depending bubble portion 12 will not be described. Typically, a respirator is provided with various filters and valves which although permitting the flow of relatively fresh or pure air therethrough also have a restrictive effect upon breathing by a welder or other individual. In addition, should the area immediately sur rounding the respirator also be restricted such that the ready flow of fresh air to the respirator is reduced, significant impediments to breathing by a welder or other individual will be experienced. Therefore, a welders mask must accommodate use of a respirator while simultaneously providing protection to the welder from heat, radiation or the like. In accordance with the present invention, it has been found that such dual protection can be achieved by configuring a lower, depending bubble portion 12 of sufficient size to permit free passage of air in and out of the bubble. However, although the size of the depending bubble portion 12 may be increased as aforesaid in order to enable such free passage of air, a further phenomenon which impedes breathing efforts must be considered. This phenomenon is the natural exchange of oxygen for carbon dioxide that occurs in the human lungs. Thus, in the exhalation process, there is an anatomical dead space beyond which the lungs cannot contract. This dead space is filled with residual carbon dioxide at the end of each exhalation phase which CO is then mixed with the next inhalation of fresh air. Normally, the residual volume of CO (in the human lungs) is relatively insignificant with respect to the tidal volume of air (volume of air per breath). Therefore, it is clear that in order to avoid significant impairment of breathing efforts, no addi- ,tional CO should be added, by inhalation, to the aforementioned residual carbon dioxide.

The use of a respirator by any individual has, in general, been found to increase residual CO as the air contained within the respirator cavity at the completion of exhalation usually exhibits a higher than normal CO /O ratio. This air is then re-inhaled ahead of fresh air drawn through filters of the respirator. Subsequent covering of the face and a respirator with a device such as a mask or the like that does not have sufficient ventilation will only generate a C0 enriched atmosphere in the vicinity of the respirator which in turn still further impedes normal breathing efforts. Thus, in accordance with the present invention, a welders mask is provided with a lower depending bubble portion of sufficient volume to permit adequate ventilation, e.g. a sufficient supply of fresh air, While also avoiding the creation of a C0 enriched atmosphere in the respirator vicinity. By configuring the welders mask to be of sufficient size to enable adequate ventilation but yet of a size such that the major portion of CO rich exhaled air is expelled from the bubble volume, the problems of supplying fresh air while avoiding CO buildup of exhaled air are effectively solved by the welders mask provided in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

It has been found that an average individual wearing a respirator with inspiratory and expiratory resistances of 64 and 44 mm. H O, respectively, and performing work at a moderate rate of 622 kg-M/min. will have a respiration rate of 22.5 breaths/min. with a min. volume of 36.2 liters. The term min. volume is defined as the volume of air breathed per minute by an individual. Thus, a typical individual exhales 1.61 liters per breath. Preferably, bubble portion 12 of helmet 10 is configured to define a volume of at least 500 ml. and preferably of approximately 700 ml., which for a typical respirator occupying a volume of 200 ml. will provide an effective air volume of 500 ml. within bubble portion 12. It will be appreciated that as approximately 1.61 liters of air are expelled per breath, and only 500 ml. of such air may remain in the volume defined by bubble portion 12, at least two-thirds of the exhaled air (1.61-0.5/1.61) is forced from the volume defined by bubble 12 during expiration. In configuring the bubble portion 12 of mask 10 in the aforementioned volume, it is preferred to provide the frontal surface of bubble portion 12, i.e., that surface immediately below window 13, at a distance of at least 7.5 cm. from the normal location of a welders chin thereby assuring sufficient clearance between a respirator worn by a welder and the frontal section of bubble portion 12.

As respirators are frequently designed with the expiration valve in the vicinity of the chin, it will be understood that the large opening of welders mask 10 under the chin is effective to receive such exhaled air and allow the unrestricted flow thereof out of the rear poriton of the mask. In addition, exhaled air is mixed and thus diluted with fresh air originally in the bubble and as such exhaled air is generally warmer than ambient air, the mixture will rise between the mask and wearers face thereby causing a chimney effect which induces a draft of fresh air upwardly into bubble portion 12 of mask 10. In this manner, an adequate supply of fresh air into bubble portion 12 in the immediate vicinity of a respirator is obtained while the CO rich exhaled air is caused to generally assume an upward flow away from the respirator device. Therefore, the provision of a bubble portion 12 with mask 10 as aforedescribed achieves the dual objectives of providing a supply of fresh air to a respirator worn by a welder or the like as well as avoiding the accumulation of CO rich exhaled air in the immediate vicinity of the respirator.

Referring again to FIG. 1 there is illustrated a portion of a head harness 14 and adjustment means 15 which upon manual operation thereof is effective to adjust the position of head harness 14 relative to the side portion 11 of welders mask 10. Adjustment means 15 may comprise a conventional threadedly adjustable positioning device operated by means of a handle or knob as well known to those skilled in the art. Head harness 14 is more fully illustrated in FIG. 2, to which attention is now directed. and is comprised of a generally horizontal portion which may be adjusted in size by means of a conventional adjusting device 17 and an upper band 18 which also may be adjusted in size by means i It will be realized by those skilled in the art that by I appropriately adjusting means 15-17 and belt buckle type adjustment device 19, head harness 14, may be adjustably and securely fitted to the head of a welder with the mask portion maintained out of contact from the welders head thereby avoiding any problems such as skin irritation which may be caused from contact with welders mask 10. Typically, head harness 14 and band 18 may be comprised of a-flexible plastic material.

While the present invention has been particularly described in terms of specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood thatnumerous variations upon the invention are now enabled to those skilled in the art which variations are again within the instant teachings. Accordingly, the present invention is to be broadly construed and limited only by the scope and the spirit -of the claims now appended hereto.

What is claimed is: g

1. A welders mask adapted to be worn with a respirator and comprising an eye-protectingwindow and an integral face covering section having side portions which extend rearwardly from a frontal portion and a lower, depending bubble portion of sufficient size to encompass a welders respirator, which bubble portion is spaced frontally from the welders chin by at least 7.5 cm. thereby defining a bubble volume greater than 500 ml. such that upon breathing by a welder of 1.61 liters of air/min. at least two-thirds of the exhaled air is expelled from the bubble volume to thereby provide suffcient ventilation and to inhibit deleterious accreations of CO in both the respirator and in the immediate vicinity of the welders face.

2. A welders mask as defined in claim 1 wherein the bubble volume is at least 700 ml. and the volume occupied by the respirator is approximately 200 ml.

3. A welders mask as defined in claim 1 wherein said side portions extend rearwardly to a point approximately juxtaposed with the welders ears.

4. A welders mask as defined in claim 1 additionally comprising head harness means for supporting said face covering section in a position spaced away from the welders head. 5

5. A welders mask as defined in claim 4'wherein said head harness means is adjustable to enable fitting of said mask to different welders.

6. A welders mask as defined in claim 1 wherein said eye-protecting window is located in the frontal portion of said section above said bubble portion.

7. A welders mask as defined in claim 1 wherein said bubble portion is configured with substantially curvilinear surfaces and said portions are substantially planar.

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 3,914,795 DATED October 28, 1975 lN\/ ENTOR(S) 1 RAYMOND D. BARTA It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 20, "not" should read now.

line 49, after and before "volume", the

word theis missing.

Column 4, lines 40-41, "poriton" should read portion--.

Signed and Scaled this tenth 1) any Of February 1976 [SEAL] Attest:

RUTH- C. MfSON C. MARSHALL DANN 11 Commissioner oj'Palenrs and Trademarks 

1. A welder''s mask adapted to be worn with a respirator and comprising an eye-protecting window and an integral face covering section having side portions which extend rearwardly from a frontal portion and a lower, depending bubble portion of sufficient size to encompass a welder''s respirator, which bubble portion is spaced frontally from the welder''s chin by at least 7.5 cm. thereby defining a bubble volume greater than 500 ml. such that upon breathing by a welder of 1.61 liters of air/min. at least two-thirds of the exhaled air is expelled from the bubble volume to thereby provide sufficient ventilation and to inhibit deleterious accreations of CO2 in both the respirator and in the immediate vicinity of the welder''s face.
 2. A welder''s mask as defined in claim 1 wherein the bubble volume is at least 700 ml. and the volume occupied by the respirator is approximately 200 ml.
 3. A welder''s mask as defined in claim 1 wherein said side portions extend rearwardly to a point approximately juxtaposed with the welder''s ears.
 4. A welder''s mask as defined in claim 1 additionally comprising head harness means for supporting said face covering section in a position spaced away from the welder''s head.
 5. A welder''s mask as defined in claim 4 wherein said head harness means is adjustable to enable fitting of said mask to different welders.
 6. A welder''s mask as defined in claim 1 wherein said eye-protecting window is located in the frontal portion of said section above said bubble portion.
 7. A welder''s mask as defined in claim 1 wherein said bubble portion is configured with substantially curvilinear surfaces and said portions are substantially planar. 